Event Highlights

Has this ever happened to you? You're rolling along, a happy family, and suddenly, your adorable, loveable, winsome children turn into sulking, uncommunicative strangers. Your daughter wants a nose ring. Your son wants a tattoo -- a zulu tatoo, that will stretch across the bridge of his nose and cover his cheeks. The last thing they want to do is spend time with you, and you can barely tear them away from texting their friends long enough to eat dinner.

Welcome to the teenage years.

We all live through it, and most kids come out on the other side as thoughtful, responsible adults, but the interim years can be trying. So, what's a parent to do?

This six-week program, taught by trained professionals from the Mountain Resource Center of Conifer, will cover respectful discipline, clear and honest communication, strategies to prevent risky behavior and how to be an encouraging parent.

Spaces are limited, and there is a $15 fee to cover the cost of materials.

Take recycling to a whole new level! Learn to make simple, metal sculptures from used pop cans. You can make cats, dogs, reindeer, snakes, owls, and other objects. Learn tips for handling the metal using patterns provided, and then, with a few sculptures under your belt, you'll be able to make your own metal menagerie at home. For children ages 10-14.

More tunes for everyone! Effective Feb. 1, music CDs will checkout for seven days. This brings our checkout period into better alignment with patron needs and industry best practices -- and it gives everyone a better shot at their favorite tunes. Don't forget, you can download live music, too -- with our new Hoopla service!

Rick came to the library for AARP Tax Help, and John and Gene helped him find $2,000 in missed deductions! In the course of their review of his tax return, they pointed out that Rick had missed a $500 pension deduction. They not only helped him get a larger return in 2014; they also helped him file amended tax returns for previous years, resulting in overall savings of $2,000!

Don't make the same mistake! Let AARP's certified tax advisors help you with your tax returns this year.

Beginning in February, the Library and AARP will provide free tax counseling and preparation assistance to all taxpayers, with special attention to those ages 60 and older. IRS-certified volunteers will be on hand at our Arvada, Belmar, Columbine, Evergreen, Lakewood and Standley Lake Libraries to help you with tax-related questions through April 15. Space is limited for each session and participants are encouraged to arrive early. Please note: appointments are required at the Evergreen Library.

Great Decisions, developed by the Foreign Policy Association, is designed to serve as a catalyst for developing awareness, understanding, and informed opinion on U.S. foreign policy and global issues. The program provides background information and policy options for eight critical issues facing America each year and serves as the focal point for discussion groups across the country.

Columbine LibrarySessions begin with a planning meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 20; participants can pick up their workbooks at this meeting. Sessions continue on select Tuesday evenings through May 19. Full schedule.

Evergreen LibraryThe first session will be held at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 21, and the program will continue through April 29. Evergreen patrons are invited to pick up their workbook and sign up at the Information Desk prior to the first discussion. Full Schedule.

Join award-winning local author Peter Heller for a special evening sponsored by Jefferson County Public Library.

Heller is a longtime contributor to NPR, and a contributing editor at Outside Magazine, Men’s Journal, and National Geographic Adventure. He is an award-winning adventure writer and the author of four books of literary nonfiction. His debut novel, The Dog Stars, is a postapocalyptic tale about a pilot living in a world filled with loss—and what he is willing to risk to rediscover, against all odds, connection, love, and grace. His latest novel, The Painter, is the story of a man intent on using the losses he has suffered to create a meaningful life. It has been described as "an achingly beautiful, wildly suspenseful second novel about an artist trying to outrun his past."

Get out of debt: One of my favorite resources in this category is Your Money or Your Life, by Vicki Robin and Joe Dominguez. But that's just my opinion. We have lots of other resources to choose from. And if your goal is to learn more about investing and finances. we have plenty of online resources available as well.

Learn something new: Nearly everything we do is designed to help you find information to spark your curiosity and explore new ideas. From aardvarks to zephyrs, chances are, we have resources to help you expand your horizons.

Get more involved in your community: We're always on the look out for volunteers! Whether you'd like to help with programs, shelving books or working behind the scenes, we'll work hard to find a perfect spot for you.

Don't let those resolutions evaporate in the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Come to the Library and keep your 2015 goals on track!

Happy New Year! JCPL is now offering 18 new online magazines through our Zinio Magazine collection. New titles include magazines such as HGTV,Vogue, The New Yorker and Bon Appetite. Fire up your tablets, smart phones and computers and enjoy reading these online magazines free from JCPL!

Sales of e-readers and tablets have been exploding as people realize the power and versatilty of these devices. If you received one for the holidays, we can help you figure out how to use it to download free eBooks and other digital content from the library, including movies and music!

We have trained professionals available to get you started. With our Book-a-Librarian service, you can make a 30-minute appointment with one of our expert staff members by: